Re: Accessibility issues of GUI interface in Linux

[Janina Sajka <janina afb net>]

May I suggest something slightly different? I agree we don't want a quote
"special" end quote distribution of Linux. But I think we can expect that
our standard tools could be installed by a standard Linux install. I
thought, for example, that Emacspeak now shipped as part of a Linux
distribution. I believe I read that on this list many moons ago. Maybe I
was dreaming, because it was unavailable under Redhat 6 install.

In my opinion, it should have been there. I am inclined to write Redhat on
that very point. Any And, imho, it should have included the w3 browser as
well. Perhaps screader should be there as well. Other tools that become
standard among us should get added to this list. Anyone want to chime in
on this?

In summary, if a standard install can support obscure monitors and
printers, it can support us as well.


				Janina Sajka, Director
				Information Systems Research & Development
				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

janina afb net


On Fri, 20 Aug 1999, Walt Smith wrote:

> Well, to me, the very idea of a _special_ distribution of Linux for blind
> users is precisely what we do _not_ want.  What we want is an architecture
> that is flexible and open enough that plugging our access modules into it
> is just as routine and effective as, say, plugging in Pine or Emacs.
> While an installation routine that's accessible would be nice, I
> personally don't consider it even remotely on the same plane as true
> accessibility in terms of day-to-day use and the "one size fits all"
> approach that any canned installation must, by its nature, assume is
> unacceptable.  I'd much rather have to find sighted assistance to do an
> install than have a system that, once installed, is only partially or
> unsatisfactorily accessible.  As was determined a couple of generations
> ago, separate is inherently unequal, so a separate "blind" Linux
> distribution is, imo, to be avoided at all costs.
> 
> -- 
> Walt Smith - Raleigh, NC
> ka3agm netcom com
> 
> "I'm extraordinarily patient provided I get my own way in the end."
>           - Margaret Thatcher
> 
> 
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